Anti-Androgen Effects of Extracts and Compounds from Ganoderma lucidum

The 30% EtOH extracts of Ganoderma lucidum Fr. Karst (Ganodermateceae) showed weak 5α‐reductase inhibitory activity and binding ability to androgen receptor. When LNCaP (lymph‐node carcinoma of the prostate) cells were treated with the EtOH extracts, cell proliferation was inhibited. Treatment with the extracts significantly inhibited the testosterone‐induced growth of the ventral prostate in castrated rats. These results showed that G. lucidum might be a useful ingredient in the treatment of androgen‐induced diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer. From the 30% EtOH extracts, we isolated ganoderiol F, which showed binding activity to androgen receptor and inhibited LNCaP cell proliferation, as one of the active compounds in the 30% EtOH extracts.